Haiti Earthquake Emergency Satellite Internet

 VSAT Systems VAR-T - Central American VAR

VAR-T, a Costa Rica based VSAT Systems reseller, is one of the few leading providers of satellite Internet service in a nation with unreliable terrestrial Internet access outside the metropolitan areas. Close proximity to other small nations and the Caribbean islands has opened up new markets for VAR-T. These markets include Travel Destinations, Remote Businesses and Residential users. For many of these customers, satellite is the only Internet option and VAR-T ensures that their solution is the best out there.

Requirements

  • Meeting the demands of an equal number of price sensitive customers as well as business customers having high bandwidth requirements.
  • Managing installations and providing tech support in regions which are geographically remote and as a result have no access to terrestrial Internet services like DSL, Cable, T-1, etc.
  • Connectivity issues in a tropical country where rain fade is a major issue with satellite networks.
  • Technological as well as marketing capabilities to address a growing market in nearby bordering Central American nations as well as remote Caribbean islands.
  • Need for mobile and portable solutions for first-responder applications for use by governmental and NGO agencies.

Solution

  • Most customers in VAR-T's market used satellite as the primary form of Internet access.
  • Reasonably priced service plans under $75/mo to high end plans with megabit upload and download speeds were made available to the customers. Even the low end plans had guaranteed QoS levels.
  • With a variety of VSAT Systems service plans and custom QoS levels to choose from, VAR-T was able to meet the demands of different customer segments.
  • The Business Continuity solution had many takers in the region due to its obvious benefits of reliable cost effective back-up. VAR-T greatly expanded its market share in the Business Continuity markets in Central America and the Caribbean.
  • Rain fade issues were effectively tackled using VSAT Systems modems with Dynamic Tx power control. This feature automatically adjusts the power levels of the RF signals according to weather conditions. The signal power is boosted for users in locations facing heavy storm clouds. This helped maintain uptimes when even other satellite systems were down in the region. Dish sizes of 1.2m-1.8m were offered as an enhancement of quality and performance for customers.
  • VAR-T was provided with installation training and installer location services which simplified the end user installation procedure.
  • A wide range of marketing collateral was made available for VAR-T to address a variety of customers and geographies.